Do you believe in fairytales? Do you believe in kingdoms ruled by strong and noble kings, evil witches that constantly scheme and plot against them, and noble knights that protect innocent princesses? Well if you don't, this story is most likely not for you, so if you would rather read about how Steve Jobs founded Apple or Nelson Mandela's twenty-seven years in prison, put this book back and forget about it.

But for those that do believe, and love a good story that you know couldn't possibly happen in real life, than this is the book for you. It's full of action, and peril; dangerous quests, and a legendary prophecy; noble knights, and a princess that is not all she seems.

It starts in the kingdom of Sciana; a big island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean that no human has ever seen or touched or even heard about, due to the fact that it is protected by a magical barrier. This island is home to the Scianites, or what you may recognize as dragons. The kingdom is diverse, with dragons of each and every walk of life coming together in a single country.

The kingdom is ruled by the four members of the royal court, known collectively as 'The Crown'. It consists of the Oracle; the healer of ills and teller of the future, The Captain; the protector of the country and leader of the soldiers, The Peacekeeper; the creator of legends and songs—and as their name suggests, the keeper of peace—and The King; the ruler of Sciana, who makes the laws and judges the guilty for their crimes. Every other century, the heirs to the thrones of The Crown are announced, celebrated with a grand party and other festivities traditional to the Scianites. The next century is spent preparing the heirs for when they take the throne.

Today just so happened to be that day. The air was thick with the excited gossip of dragons as to who would be announced to be the heirs of the thrones and Scianites were decorating their homes in preparation and hanging prayer flags for the health of the kingdom. However, inside the castle of The Crown, the atmosphere was considerably calmer.

In the main chamber of the King's tower, a big black dragon was standing protectively over a small cradle. Despite his fierce, battle-ready posture, his orange eyes were filled with the purest of joy. Inside the cradle was not a chick or an egg as one might suspect, but rather a creature that was not commonly seen on the island: a baby girl.

Not a human one of course (Or, rather I should say, not entirely human); she had arms and legs and pink skin, but also horns and wings and a tail. The baby was cooing and playing with her tail, staring at it with the utmost of childish curiosity.

The door to the room suddenly opened and a lithe dragoness strode gracefully inside. She smiled at her fellow Scianite and then turned her attention to the baby. "Ignacius, how much longer are you going to be? The ceremony starts in two hours and you still haven't prepared a speech."

The black dragon looked at his visitor. "My apologies, Hydronia. I am just making sure she is alright."

Hydronia moved closer to the crib, examining the child as if it were some specimen she had never seen before. "I remember reading about Scale Children during my years as a Cleric, but I never really could imagine what they looked like until Kallan's birth. Each are precious, and nothing quite prepares you for their arrival."

Ignacius smiled, puffing his chest out with pride. "My daughter; half-human and half-dragon. She will usher in a new era for the denizens of Sciana."

Hydronia looked at Ignacius with worry. "Do you know how dangerous this is? Never before has a Scale Child been a part of The Crown, and now you're suggesting that the next generation is ruled by a court completely composed of them?"

"I am quite aware." Ignacius affirmed. "You foresaw it in one of your visions that this would come. It is not by chance that all of the members of The Crown conceived Scale Children, rather it is fate: destiny, even. At the ceremony, they shall be celebrated." Ignacius lowered his head, allowing his infant daughter to grab his nose playfully. "Peacetime is at it's best right now. It is the right time for the Scale Children to take their rightful place on the throne."

Hydronia sighed. "If you say so, my king."

"I do, my oracle." He lifted his head to look Hydronia in the eyes. "Is Kallan ready?"

The dragoness' blue eyes softened. "Yes. Kallan is quite excited. In fact, she's already begun to have-"

The members of The Crown were interrupted by the sound of something falling to the ground and breaking. The King and the Oracle turned their heads towards a young girl appearing to be about six years of age with wavy blond hair and big blue eyes. The truth was she was only a few moons older than the new born princess. Due to the rapid growth of Scale Children like her in their first year, however, she seemed much older than she was.

Two webbed fins flattened against her head and her long, finned tail hid behind her back out of shame. Next to her lay a broken lamp.

"Kallan!" Hydronia exclaimed. "What are you doing here? I told you to stay with Sister Nari."

"Sister Nari told me that the princess was in the palace." Kallan said, innocently playing with her long hair. "I just wanted to look at her."

Hydronia shook her head. "She's but a babe. She's extremely delicate."

"But Lucian and Metalia-"

"I don't care what Lucian and Metalia say. Lucian is only two years older than you are; as for Metalia, she's just like her father—needs to be in charge of everything." Hydronia scolded.

Kallan looked down at her feet in disappointment. "I know, but I've never seen a baby before."

The Oracle was about to open her mouth to protest, but Ignacius silenced her with a flick of his tail. "You wish to see my daughter?"

Kallan nodded her head enthusiastically with a huge smile.

"Come see Princess Scarlett, then." He moved out of the way so Kallan could lay eyes upon the baby girl. She giggled and made her way carefully to the cradle. She peeked her small head over and spoke in a voice no louder than a whisper. "Hello."

The baby cooed in response.

Kallan gently patted the top of her head. "She's got a big head."

"Human babies have oddly large heads." Ignacius explained to the child.

Kallan giggled and then waved her tail in excitement. "She's got a tail like I do! She's like me!"

"That's right, Kallan." Hydronia affirmed. "She is like you, for she is also a Scale Child: born of two different creatures, but not exactly like either."

Kallan nodded and held out her finger for the infant princess to grip with her small hand. She twitched her ears habitually like she always did when she was happy, and then leaned down to Scarlett. "I'm going to be your best friend, princess. We're going to go on so many adventures together!"

Ignacius chuckled. "I would hope so."

"Come on, Kallan." Hydronia said, lifting her daughter unto her back with her wing. "We need to prepare you for the ceremony."

"Okay, mother." Kallan wrapped her small arms around her mother's slender neck, nuzzling into it like a pillow.

Hydronia exited the room. "Farewell, Ignacius. I shall see you soon."

"Goodbye." Ignacius said, although his attention was once again fully trained on Scarlett. Hydronia made her way down the halls of the King's Tower and flew towards her part of the palace, The Oracle's Temple. Hydronia landed in the main chamber and smiled as Kallan once again gasped at all of the books, her jaw dropped in wonder and curiosity.

Letting her daughter down gently off her back, Hydronia looked at Kallan worriedly. "My drop, can you tell me about the vision you had? I just need to make sure."

"Yes, mother." Kallan replied obediently. The Scale Child closed her small eyes and relaxed until her breathing became slow and shallow. Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, pulsating with a white light that was as bright as moonlight. She spoke in a voice that was not one of a child, but one of someone that had seen many things over many years. "The Dragon of Shadow will take the Crown; Four will escape to where they won't be found; The Little Red Flame will take back what's hers; And one who she trusts will cause her much hurt."

Hydronia sighed, her eyes filling with worry. "That's what I was afraid of."

"The time of the Scale Children will come with great force; The wall will be broken after remorse; The river shall sweep up what darkness has done; Then dragons and human shall together live as one." Kallan continued.

"Dragons and humans living as one?" Hydronia mused, looking at Kallan inquisitively. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Kallan's eyes suddenly returned to their normal color, and just before she could collapse to the floor, she was caught by her mother's paw.

"Oh, dearest drop..." Hydronia purred, lifting her daughter once again onto her back. Let's hope that these visions shall not come true for a very long time."

*                    *                    *

King Ignacius stood proudly with his head held high and his wings outspread grandly. Even though precious Scarlett had been with him for only a month, Ignacius had been there to hear her first words, see her blow her first breaths of fire, and take her first steps; she was growing rapidly before the King's eyes. Ignacius was overcome with a sense of joy as he now witnessed Scarlett vigorously flapping her small wings, trying to take to the air.

"You can do it." Ignacius encouraged his daughter. "Fly, my flickering flame."

Scarlett's wings flapped a little faster, but nothing happened.

"Come on, fly to your father!" The King pushed.

"Ignacius, you've been trying to get her to fly for nearly an hour." A silvery dragon next to the king noted. "Maybe she's just not ready."

A look of disappointment crossed the King's face. "Argentum, we don't use that negative tone around Scarlett. She can do anything she puts her mind to."

A girl with coppery hair, golden eyes and silver dragonesque features resembling Argentum poked her head from the metallic dragon's leg. "I for one think her wings are far too small for flying."

Ignacius smiled. "They're bigger than any chick's that I've seen before; they're perfect for flying. She can do it."

A slender white dragoness suddenly appeared in a burst of clouds, a mixed look of exhaustion and relief veiling her face. She sat down atop the Peacekeeper's throne and took a deep breath.

"You're cutting it awfully close, Haizea." Argentum teased.

Haizea smirked. "As Protector of The Crown, I thought you would have had a little more respect than that." She shot back. "Now, Lucian, are you ready for-" Haizea began to look around frantically. "Lucian? Lucian! Lucian where did you go?"

A small boy with messy white hair younger than Argentum's daughter appeared directly next to Ignacius, collapsing and speaking between heavy breaths. "Mom...you know...I can't...cloud hop...that fast..."

"Lucian, I told you to hang tight!" Haizea scolded, picking him up with her extremely long, feathered tail and placing him on her back.

"I fell off!" Lucian countered. "You're way too fast!"

As Haizea continued to fret over her son and start scanning him for any signs of injury, Ignacius caught some movement in the corner of his eye. As he began to focus on the source of the movement, Ignacius saw Scarlett slowly rising into the air. His jaw dropped as she hovered steadily about a foot above her cradle.

"She's doing it!" Ignacius beamed. "I told you she could do it!"

"Scarlett's flying earlier than Metalia did." Lucian chimed which earned him an elbow in the gut from his fellow Scale Child.

"She got lucky." Metalia complained.

Before the infant Scale Child's wings gave out, Kallan came out of seemingly nowhere, sliding underneath her to catch her. Hydronia followed shortly after and placed Scarlett back in her cradle, then sat upon the Oracle's throne. "Now, children, take your dragon forms. They're traditional for this ceremony."

"Nonsense!" Came Ignacius' loud bellow. "They're beautiful just the way they are."

"Trust me, my King." Hydronia said in a warning voice. "It will be easier for the denizens of Sciana to accept them if they are seen as dragons first."

After a short moment, Ignacius sighed and nodded. "Alright then. Use their Soul Gems."

Kallan, Metalia and Lucian all found the small crystal-like glands on their bodies and tapped them once so they became smaller versions of their parents. Ignacius ran a claw along Scarlett's neck, causing her to become a small dragon chick. He then picked her up and placed her atop his head.

"The guests will come flooding in shortly." Argentum noted, folding his wings flat against his body.

"Don't you mean now?" Metalia asked.

Sure enough, the doors blew open and dragons of every shape, size and color came flying in. It was only mere moments before the grand hall was filled with Scianites and their chatter. The ceremony now officially could start. Once the dragons began to settle down, King Ignacius placed Scarlett on the ground next to his throne and began to address the crowd.

"Dragons of Sciana, it is with great honor that I welcome you to the Choosing of the Next Crown." Ignacius announced. "Four dragons will be announced as the Prince, Cleric, Diplomat and Knight respectively. One day, these lucky four will take their rightful place as the next members of The Crown and the leaders of the next generation!"

The crowd of dragons cheered wildly.

"First, I will do the honor of announcing the Prince." Ignacius leaned down to pick up Scarlett from the ground. "This is my daughter; my pride and joy. She hails from a long line of noble Flame Drakes and gives me a reason to smile each and every day. Her name is Scarlett Seraphina Rosetta Drakani Nilakanta-"

The words were interrupted by the sudden opening of the main doors. Storm clouds with lightning and shadows began to pour into the room, a dragoness riding atop them with a horde of shadow beings following her in their wake. Silence struck the room as she landed in front of The Crown, nobody daring to speak a word out of fear.

"Kali!" Ignacius growled.

The dragoness grinned. "Cousin Ignacius! It's been far too long! I would have come by more often except—oh, that's right—you threw me into the Prisoner's Pit fifty years ago!"

"You had every right to be thrown in there!" Argentum snapped.

"You tried to kill Ignacius!" Haizea followed.

Kali laughed. "Water under the bridge. What's in the past is in the past. Now let's just sit back and enjoy the ceremony!" Kali leaned in towards Metalia, Lucian and Kallan, causing Metalia to squeal in fear. Kallan stood in front of her fellow Scale Children and sood in her most fearsome battle stance—or at least as fearsome as a dragon chick could look. "I assume the chicks are all of yours?"

Hydronia let a guttural growl from her lips. "Leave my precious Kallan and the others out of it! You are not welcome here!"

Kali smirked. "I can see the resemblances. Like mother like daughter; protectors of the weak." She then leaned in towards Ignacius and touched Scarlett with a claw. "And I assume this beauty is your daughter, cousin?"

Ignacius let out a loud roar as a warning. "Leave now, Kali."

Kali looked once more at Scarlett, then back at Ignacius. "I see what your plan is, cousin. Have you forgotten what they have done to us? How much strife those parasites have caused us? Apparently not, because now you're suggesting that their spawn becomes part of The Crown!"

"What is she talking about?" Came a voice from the crowd of dragons.

"Parasites?"

"King Ignacius, we demand an explanation!"

Kali, knowing that she had successfully grabbed the attention of the members of her audience, turned her focus to the crowd. "Citizens of my beloved home and country, Sciana; the chicks that you see before you are not all that they seem! The very dragons that you entrust with your safety and wellbeing are going to put the spawn of our worst enemies in charge of the next era! These are Scale Children! Half-human, those God-forsaken scum!"

Half of the dragons in the crowd gasped in shock, the other half seemed to cheer in celebration. Suddenly, arguments broke out between the two sides.

"It's about time we accept Scale Children! It's not like we're putting actual humans on the throne!"

"But Scale Children are the only creatures that can travel between Sciana and Araina! What if they conspire with the humans to kill us once and for all?"

"Are you really going to listen to the advice of the Dark Sorceress Kali? She'll kill us all!"

"The fact that this is even occurring..." Hydronia trailed off, a look of worry crossing her eyes.

Kali smirked, a dark and malicious aura rolling off her in waves. "Ignacius, you do know the law, right? If the Scianite population does not agree to the next heirs of The Crown by a three to one vote, then the heirs will be permitted to take the throne. And as you know, this is a law that has been recorded since the beginning of dragonkind, so not even you—the King—can change it." Kali spun around to face the crowd. "The Crown is going soft! They lie to their people and place humans on thrones made for dragons! We must take back what we believe in by force! Let's kill the Scale Children and show The Crown where our real loyalties lie!"

Ignacius' eyes widened as the scene played out before him. As various dragons lunged with murderous intent towards the Scale Children, others stopped them and pushed them back. Within mere moments, the throne room was a bloodbath. The King felt something that he had not felt in a long, long time: fear.

"This means war!" Kali bellowed, lunging for Scarlett. Adrenaline kicked into the King's body and he pushed his cousin back, but she was much too strong for him. Argentum quickly came to his assistance and helped to pin her to the ground.

"Haizea!" Ignacius yelled in a strained voice. "Take Scarlett and the other children somewhere safe! Kali cannot be allowed to kill them at any cost!"

Haizea nodded and quickly gathered up the four Children, disappearing into thin air and leaving nothing but a cloud behind her. Kali roared in frustration and then glared menacingly at Ignacius.

"You've only delayed the inevitable, cousin." She warned. "No matter where they run, no matter where they hide, there is not a place anywhere that does not have shadows. It may take me a while, but I shall eventually track them down and save them so I can have the pleasure of murdering them right before your very eyes! Mark my words, Ignacius; your kingdom will fall!"

"Not before they take The Crown!" Argentum shouted.

Ignacius closed his eyes and began to pray. God of humans and God of the Eternal Flame, please protect my daughter. No matter where she goes, please make sure that Kali and her minions will never be able to find her.

Hey, guys! This is the start of my book Burning Hope. I've always been fascinated by dragons and fairytales, so this book has a little bit of both. I hope that you like it, and if you do, PLEASE VOTE. And comment. And share. It means so much to me when you take your time to do these little things because in the end it means you care. I hope this time, this book will not only be finished, but gain a lot of support and readers.

Signing off, Kiera Savage.